How to make your own Eco-Enzyme Detergent

Updated on September 17, 2011

During our schooling days, we were taught that enzymes are produce by living organism like bacteria. Enzymes are protein chains that bring about biochemical reaction which is essential to help increase metabolism in our body. Another important property of enzyme is they breakdown water-insoluble dirt into smaller molecules. This makes them a perfect cleaning agent. There are a lot of "enzyme cleaners / detergents" commercially sold in the market.

What is Eco-Enzyme

Eco-Enzyme, also known as "Garbage Enzyme" is first introduced by Dr. Rosukon Poompanvong who is the founder of Organic Agriculture Association of Thailand. The idea of the project is to cultivate enzymes from organic waste that we would normally throw into garbage bin as organic cleaner. His findings proofed not only this enzyme is cheap and easy to make (in huge volume) but it is also an effective cleaning detergent. Best of all, it is environmental friendly.

Eco-Enzyme Detergent Making Techniques

Below are simple instructions to make your own enzyme detergent. Although you can use any type of organic waste but for home used, I would recommend using fruit skins and/or vegetable wastes.

1. Get yourself an empty and clean 20-liter plastic container with an airtight lid.

2. Fill the container with 10 liters of tap water.

3. Add 1 kg of brown sugar or any kind of unprocessed sugar and stir until it dissolves in the water. DO NOT use the normal processed white sugar.

4. Add 3 kg of fruit waste into container. It might take some time to collect such amount of fruit waste - get them from fruit stalls.

5. Mixed the ingredients properly in the container with a clean plastic ruler or stick

6. Close the lid of the container tightly.

7. During the first month of fermentation, open the lid once every two days and stir the mixture. This is to release gas produced during fermentation and at the same time allow more oxygen for the fermentation.

8. Leave the mixture for another two months (in sheltered location) to allow fermentation to continue. During this period, stir the mixture once every two weeks.

9. After 3 months, the enzyme should have a dark-brown color is ready to be used. Remove the all fruit skins and remainder (use them as fertilizer for your plants).

10. You may want to bottled them to smaller handy bottles.

Expert advice:

Plastic container is preferred as gas will be released during the fermentation process. Plastic containers is not as rigid as glass or metal.

Do not use fruit/vegetable wastes that are rotten or have fungus on them.

During the fermentation process, it will produce some smell. Make sure you close the lid of the container tightly.

To know if fermentation process is going well, you should see a white layer of bio-film on the surface of the enzyme.

If you want to make a smaller quantity, reduce the ratio accordingly - i.e. 10 parts of water, 1 part of brown sugar and 3 parts fruit/vegetable wastes.

The above Eco-Enzyme formula is concentrated. You need to dilute it with water before using. Since different usage requires different concentration, start with 1 capful of enzyme to 1 liter of water and reduce/add as needed. Don't be too worry of getting the right concentration.

There are many uses of Eco-Enzyme. Their antibacterial and antiviral resistance properties make them great for cleaning drains, floors, bathrooms, dishes, fruits and vegetables and even your body. Eco-Enzyme improves air quality by removing foul odors and drives away insects in your home. Besides being an effective cleaning agent, Eco-Enzyme is biodegradable which helps protect our environment as compared to using conventional chemically produced detergents.

More by this Author

Of course there are more in LEAN manufacturing as to what listed above. However, I hope you find the above tools practical for your daily lives. You are welcome to share comments that others might find useful....

Comments 28 comments

Will start making my own eco-enzyme detergent after reading this article. Thks 4 sharing.

MarleneB 5 years ago from Northern California, USA

I like the concept of doing what I can to protect the environment. I will, definitely try this.

umakeit 5 years ago

Good article, martinyz, Eco-Enzyme is good to our environment. I like their antibacterial and antiviral resistance properties. Thanks for sharing.

ghiblipg 5 years ago

this is interesting...if every family can do it, for sure will help the environment a lot =)

ilitek 5 years ago

i have done this before.

GT Ooi 5 years ago from Penang, Malaysia

I have tried this but not so successful, will compare your method vs mine for next trial out

My Footprints 5 years ago from MY

We made such enzyme for our household use – mainly as floor detergent. Won’t say is very effective but its a good way to protect the environment. I bought another type of enzyme - worm urine for my plants. Just tried once - no results to share in terms of effectiveness.

activedragon 5 years ago

My wife loves those enzyme when it comes to cleaning. They could be used for so many things. I've made a lot about 2 years ago and they are still being soaked with the fruit skins. I like to use only citrus fruits as they smell good.

They've been soaked for so long, partly due to making too much to be used by us and partly lazy bone to bottle them. They're all still in the air-tight container. Wonder if they will be more potent when soaked longer.

Thanks for your article. It has just reminded me that I still have 6 big containers of enzyme to use. :)

beginners-dslr 5 years ago from Malaysia

Thanks for this great article of this wonder cleaner! My mom made tonnes of them. I used them as floor and toilet cleaner, and it acts as a natural insect repellent too. Voted up!

doubleH 5 years ago from Singapore

Good sharing.

happyyeo 5 years ago

Citrus skins such as lemon, orange and pineapple are smell good. I use this eco-enzyme to clean floor because it works as an insect repellent. Thanks for sharing.

henrygogoals 5 years ago from Singapare

Yes, I tried before.

idex231 5 years ago from MY

I use the enzyme for the floor and as the fertilizer for the plant. Just be careful when use as fertilizer as it needs to be diluted or it'll kill the plant instead. Initially I use all kinds of garbage,but eventually found that to get better smell and not getting any worm in the enzyme, I use only fruit skin, especially citrus. This hub is great! Good for the pocket, good for the environment!!

abacus2000bc 5 years ago

eco-enzyme proved that "Garbage in Garbage out" is not always true.

klyyong 5 years ago

Yes, eco-enzyme can be used to replace the house hold cleaning agent to protect our environment. Save the world for our future generation! Good article.

joriechew 5 years ago

Congratulation! It is a great hub indeed.

ripplemaker 5 years ago from Cebu, Philippines

Wow... thank you for this step by step instructions on how to make eco enzyme detergent. Thumbs up!

Wow, great idea, I immediately want to know what it smells like? I estimate we spend around 100-125$/year on detergent so there's that savings too.

Well done,

Ben

Maren Morgan M-T 5 years ago from Pennsylvania

wow -- conflicting comments about effectiveness. I am going to do more research. Thanks for sharing.

BkCreative 5 years ago from Brooklyn, New York City

Brilliant hub! We just have to stop filling our waterways with toxic detergents - which is sold to us in the name of profit only. I've started steaming my clothes more often to cut down on the washing and resulting damage.

I will certainly try this. Thanks a million and rated up and more. Yay!

choesf 5 years ago

I would like to add that these enzymes when used to mop floors are also very pet-friendly. When I was using commercial floor washes, my cats have occasional bouts of vomiting (well, cats like to clean/lick their fur and paws). But since I started using the eco-enzyme, they never have vomiting anymore.

edward 3 years ago

Well for me this was a waste of time might only work as a cleaner to remove dust not impressed at all

edward 3 years ago

Well for me this was a waste of time might only work as a cleaner to remove dust not impressed at all

David 2 years ago

I always thought modern brown sugar was nothing more than refined sugar and molasses. I would guess the refining is not the concern but the additional calcium of the molasses might be aiding in the process.

Estel 12 months ago

Isn't this product of fermentation what is commonly known as "vinegar", which as an acid, has excellent cleaning properties? If not, could you explain the difference? Thank you?